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The Taoiseach said that the historic position of Irish neutrality was of concern to those who voted No in the Nice Treaty and those who had not voted at all.
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Ireland has secured a commitment from the European Council that any future move towards a common, EU-wide, defence policy will only be adopted in accordance with constitutional requirements of member countries.
The European Council declaration on neutrality said any such policy did not impose any binding commitments on the signatories of the Nice Treaty.
In a simultaneous move, the Irish Government also published a declaration which stated that Ireland’s commitment to a European security policy did not prejudice its traditional position on neutrality.
The summit of EU heads of government in Seville has published the two declarations, one from the European Council and the other from Ireland, on Irish neutrality and the Nice Treaty.
They have agreed that any future move to a common defence would be adopted in accordance with the constitutional requirements of each member state, and would not impose any binding commitments.
The declaration outlines the terms under which Irish defence forces would take part in European-backed peace missions and says that such paticpation can only take place with the approval of the Dail, and if the mission is backed by a UN mandate.
Ireland's declaration stated that its commitment to a European foreign and security policy did not prejudice its traditional policy of military neutrality.
Earlier this morning the Taoiseach said that the historic position of Irish neutrality was of concern to those who voted No in the Nice Treaty and those who had not voted in the referendum at all.
He also rejected suggestions that an EU declaration on Irish neutrality would not be legally binding.
"What we are seeking to do in our national declaration and in the European declaration is to state clearly and unambiguously that there is nothing in the treaties that in affects our neutrality any way.
"There is nothing that in any way forces us to or interprets that we have to join a European army or any kind of other military alliance or common military position," Mr Ahern said.
The Deparement of Foreign Affairs said the Government was confident the statement would allay concerns expressed during the first referendum campaign.
The 54-to-46 percent vote against the treaty, on a low turnout, was a major setback to plans to admit up to 10 new members probably in 2004.
The European Commission has said a second Irish "no" would delay the accession of the east European and Mediterranean candidate countries, the most ambitious EU project since the adoption of the euro, and cause a crisis of confidence.
Opinion polls released since the treaty was defeated have suggested rising anti-treaty sentiment and waning support.
The Nice treaty will expire if it is not signed by all EU members by the the end of 2002, vastly complicating the admission of new members.
Additional reporting by Reuters